Fiber collection system with means to reduce contamination of fiber and loss of fiber

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for collecting fibrous material preparatory to baling including fiber feeding, fiber collection and fiber discharging means so designed as greatly to reduce the contamination and loss of the fiber during the process. Specifically, the fiber is fed to a support member located alongside the charging or collection chamber where streams of air lift and move the fiber from the support thereby to deliver the fiber into the charging chamber. The chamber, near the place where the fiber is fed thereinto, is provided with a perforated section through which the carrier air for conveying the fiber is removed and which prevents loss of fiber. The interior of the apparatus is maintained under subatmospheric pressure. Fiber holding dogs are provided with cover plates to seal about the openings in the sides of the chamber when the dogs are in fiber holding position, during the packing operation. Certain moving relatively slideable portions of the packing means are continuously subjected to downwardly moving currents of air to prevent accumulation of fiber thereon.

United States Patent 1 1 3,583,312

[72] Inventors Donald W. Van Doorn; 3,107,604 /1963 Deems 100/215 XWilliam C. Pease, Ill, Columbus; Jack L. 3,111,892 11/1963Deems............. 100/90 gzmg gt r fi gi Robert Lange Primary Examiner-Peter F eldman [2]] pp No- Attorney Jennings, Carter and Thompson [22]Filed Sept. 20, 1968 Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Asslgnee Lummus comm GmCompany ABSTRACT: Apparatus for collecting fibrous material preparatoryto baling including fiber feeding, fiber collection [54] FIBERCOLLECTION SYSTEM WITH MEANS To and fiber discharging means so designedas greatly to reduce REDUCE CONTAMINATION 0F "BER AND Loss thecontamination and loss of the fiber during the process. "BERSpecifically, the fiber is fed to a support member located 13 ClaimsDrawing Figs alongside the charging or collection chamber where streamsof air lift and move-the fiber from the support thereby to [52] U.S.Cl.100/90, deliver the fib i the charging h b The chamber, loo/215 00/220near the place where the fiber is fed thereinto, is provided with [5 l]Int. a erfo ated ection through the carrier air for convey- Field ofSearch /90, 69, ing the fib is removed and which Prevents loss f fiberThe 2 220 interior of the apparatus is maintained under subatmosphericressure. Fiber holding dogs are provided with cover plates to [56]References cued Eeal about the openings in the sides of the chamber whenthe UNITED STATES PATENTS dogs are in fiber holding position, during thepacking opera- 1,205,090 11/1916 Gernigan 100/220 X tion. Certain movingrelatively slideable portions of the 1,521,865 1/1925 Cameron... 100/220packing means are continuously subjected to downwardly 2,139,928 12/1938Blewett 100/220 moving currents of air to prevent accumulation of fiber3,025,785 3/1962 Deems 100/90 thereon.

PATENTED JUN 8|97l $583,312

' sum 3 OF 4 I N VE N TOP 5 0004 Id W Van 00am? W////a7 CT Pea seZZZ 79i Aim/ways moves the follow block upwardly or downwardly,

FIBER COLLECTION SYSTEM WITH MEANS TO REDUCE CONTAMINATION OF FIBER ANDLOSS OF FIBER Our invention relates to a system for collecting fiberspreparatory to baling the same.

In the art to which our invention relates it has long been customary tocollect fibers as by means of a condenser ofthe like and to feed thesefibers into a fiber collection chamber prior to applying the finalcompression which forms the fibers into the finished bale. Such priorapparatus has been characterized by contamination of the fiber, damagingof the fiber due to the mechanical feeding means which causes twistedbunches of the fibers and loss of fibers through openings in theapparatus and due to the packing member and compressing member movingair about in the chamber. As is known. when the fibers are to be packedinto a charging chamber by apparatus such as a tramper, the chamber isprovided with holding dogs so that the fiber pushed into the lower partofthe collecting chamber is held by such dogs until a ram or the likethereby to force the fibers into final compression. These holddown dogsare mounted for movement into and out of slots in the sidewalls of thechamber and heretofore a great deal of fiber has been lost through suchopenings during filling of the chamber. Further, in prior apparatus ofthis general type there has been contamination of the fibers due to thesame collecting on the piston rods and other moving parts of theapparatus. There has been a considerable loss of fiber through variousnecessary openings in the apparatus.

In view of the foregoing an object of our invention, broadly stated, isto provide apparatus of the character designated in which means isprovided to prevent contamination of the fibers and loss thereof duringaccumulation ofthe fibers in the charging chamber and to provideimproved means for delivering the fibers to the chamber.

More specifically, our invention contemplates an improved means fordelivering fibers to the chamber during those times when the tramper orother packing apparatus is in or near its uppermost or raised position,which means consists essentially of a unique pneumatic lift and shiftingmeans for moving the fiber from a collection point near the chamber tothe inside of the chamber.

Another object is to provide, in apparatus of the character designated,means to remove the carrier air used to deliver the fiber to the chamberand at the same time to screen out of such air any loose fiber or flywhich otherwise would go out with such air.

Another object of our invention is to provide air feed means for fiberas indicated above together which mechanism which automatically shutsoff the supply of air for such fiber delivery purposes when the packingmechanism is on its downward stroke.

Another object is to provide apparatus in which the interior of thecharging chamber is maintained under subatmospheric pressure during thetime that the fiber is being collected therein and to accomplish theforegoing, as well as moving air downwardly about the piston rod orother reciprocating members of the tramper, by a single air blower orthe like.

A further object is to provide the fiber holddown dogs with cover plateswhich seal about the openings in the sidewalls of the chamber duringthose times when they are holding the fiber which has been packedtherebeneath.

Our invention further contemplates an improved means for mounting andoperating the holddown dogs which allows the above-mentioned coverplates to be used. namely, apparatus in which the dogs are free to moveoutwardly without interference with the cover plates upon downwardmovement of the tramper and which return to their fiber holding positiondue to a spring biasing of the same, and yet, which automatically arewithdrawn from the chamber without interference with the cover platesresponsive to upward movement of the fiber final compression apparatussuch as a lower platen which is moved upwardly by a ram or the like.

Apparatus illustrating features of our invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a somewhat diagrammatic, detail sectional view, with partspartly broken away and in section, and illustrating our improved system;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view through a portion of theapparatus to illustrate the means for delivering the fiber into thechamber;

FIG. 3 is a detail, enlarged sectional view taken generally along lineIll-III ofof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, enlarged detail sectional view taken generallyalong line IV-IV of FIG. 2 and illustrating a surface of the perforatedmetal section through which the carrier air is removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmental sectional view of the upper endof the chamber and illustrating the method of circulating air about thepiston rod of the tramper;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along lineVl-Vl of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail fragmental view of the lower end of one ofthe operating mechanisms for one set of holddown dogs;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a portion of the dog supportmechanism shown in FIG. 7, this FIG. showing only onehalf of a completeset of the mechanisms; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the means for controlling theoperation of the air control valve.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of ourinvention we show the same as embodying a fiber collection chamberindicated generally at A in FIG. 1, a fiber delivering means indicatedgenerally at B, a tramper indicated generally at C and means, includinga blower, and ducts for supplying air to the fiber delivery means andfor maintaining the inside of the chamber under subatmospheric pressure,all generally indicated by the letter D.

As will be understood, the charging box A may embody a stationary upperportion 10 and a lower portion indicated generally at 11 which may beplaced beneath the upper portion 10 to receive the fiber and then, bymeans not shown, rotated to a position beneath a press box, also notshown, to receive the fiber. Thus, in the lower section 11 there may bea follow block or platen '12 which, by a ram which may enter the opening13, is moved upwardly when the lower portion of the box is filled withfiber, thus to move the fiber upwardly and compress it into the pressbox for baling. We illustrate at 14 an open ended, lower portion of acarton which has been placed on top of the platen I2, prior to placingany fiber in the box and which may be used in connection with an uppersection of a carton placed within the press box, not shown, to enclosethe fiber in bale form.

The fiber indicated at F is delivered to our improved apparatus througha downwardly inclined chute or slide I6 from a condenser or otheraccumulating means or source, not shown. The fiber is delivered by theslide onto a substantially horizontal, shelflike structure 17illustrated more particularly in FIG. 2 and which may comprise aplurality of individual channel like sections 18. The upper, forwardlyprojecting edges of the sections I8 each project above the rear lowerends of the adjacent section, in steplike fashion. The edges soprojecting are provided with openings 19 as shown in FIG. 3 throughwhich air may be delivered as will be explained, thus pneumatically tolift and laterally move the fiber off the support and into the chamber.

The chamber A is provided with an opening 21 through a sidewall thereoflocated at the discharge side of the shelflike support section 17. Atransition plate 22, curved as shown in FIG. 2 is adapted to evenlyconvey the fiber off the delivery end of section 17 so that it dropsdownwardly into the collection chamber. This curved plate reducesturbulence of air flowing from the feeder to the scavenger, as willappear. Also, and as customary in the art. the opening 21 may be closedby a sliding door 20 whenever the operating portion ofthe tramper C isin downward position as will later appear. That is to say, on eachdownward packing movement of the tramper C door 20 is lowered intoposition to close opening 21.

Located beneath the shelf like section 17 is a plenum chamber 23. Airunder pressure is supplied to the plenum 23 through a conduit 24 from ablower 26. Thus, when the tramper is in raised position and as willappear as the description proceeds, air is supplied through the conduit24 to the plenum 23 and passes out through the openings 19, thereby toraise and laterally move the fiber thereon through the opening 21 whereit falls by gravity into the lower portion of the chamber. The tramperthen starts its downward stroke, whereupon the door closes the opening21 and the fiber is packed and held by certain holding dogs as willlater appear.

in order to remove from chamber A the carrier air delivered through theconduit 24, we provide a perforated section 27 for the upper part 10 ofthe chamber. This perforated section is located beneath the transitionplate 22 and is surrounded by a bustle pipe 28. The bustle pipe 28 isconnected to a conduit 29 which leads to the intake side of the blower26 so that air required by the blower is drawn through a perforatedsection 27. By way ofexample, the section 27 may be a smooth metal platewith 1/16 diameter holes located on /6 inch centers as shown in FIG. 4.

It will be noted that the conduit 24, leading from the outlet side offan 26, is connected thereto by a conduit 31. At 32 we show a valvepivoted at 33 and which has an operating member 34 secured thereto.Pivotally mounted at 36 is an air cylinder 37 having its piston rodconnected at 38 to the other end of arm 34. Cylinder 37 is double actingand is under control of a solenoid operated valve 39. Thus, air underpressure from a source not shown may be supplied to the valve 39 througha conduit 41. With the value 41 in one position air is supplied to thecylinder 37 through line 42, thus to move arm 34 and hence valve 32about pivot point 33 from the position shown in the drawings to aposition to close conduit 24. On the other hand, when air is supplied toline 41 through conduit 43, the value is maintained in the positionshown in FIG. 1, that is, with conduit 24 full open and with a smallamount of air passing around the valve 32 to exhaust, for a purposepresently to appear.

The valve 39 is under control of electric switch 44 located in positionto be closed when a movable portion of the tramper is in raisedposition. The switch 44 is spring biased toward open position, wherebyupon downward movement of the tramper parts, the switch opens andcylinder 37 is energized to hold valve 32 in the position illustrated inF 10. 1.

The tramper C embodies a fluid pressure cylinder 46, a piston rod 47 anda tramper foot 48. The cylinder is supported by suitable framework 49over the upper portion 10 of chamber A. The tramper is operated inordinary fashion, that is, intermittently, whereby the tramper foot 48moves downwardly to pack the fiber delivered through the opening 21 intothe bottom section 11 of the chamber.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5 it will be seen that around the pistonrod 47 for the tramper we provide an elongated plenum 51. Air from theexhaust side of the blower 26 is delivered continuously to plenum 51through a conduit 52, there being an adjustable plate valve 53 in line31 which regulates the amount of exhaust air from the fan which goes toexhaust through the conduit 54, thereby to determine the volumedelivered to line 52. Thus, the plenum 51 is so designed that at alltimes during operating of the apparatus streams of air illustrated bythe arrows 56 flow around the moving piston rod 47, thus to preventfiber from accumulating thereon. Further, we provide a screen section 57which surrounds the plenum and the adjacent supporting structure 58 sothat during operation there are downwardly moving streams of airentering the screen as illustrated by the arrows 59. Such air may bethat portion thereof which moves out through the top openings of theplenum 51, adjacent the piston 47 and rods 45 and any other air whichmay leak through the apparatus at that point.

From what has been described it will be seen that with the apparatus inoperation and with the blower connected as shown, fiber fed onto theslide 16 comes to rest on the air lifting and feeding section 17. Withthe tramper foot 47 in the raised position door 20 is held in upward,open position, thus to open the feed opening 21. Since the valve 32 isin the position shown in FIG. 1, because switch 44 is open, air issupplied through the conduit 24 to plenum 23 where it engages throughthe openings 19, thus to lift and laterally shift or move the fiber fromthe support 17 where it falls through openings 21 and into thecollection chamber. The tramper foot 48 now moves downwardly, closingdoor 20 and also moving valve 32 from the position shown to a positionto shut off the flow of air to conduit 24. During each downward movementof the tramper the perforated section 27 is wiped, removing all fibersthat might be clinging thereto and carrying them into the lower portionof the chamber. During all this time the intake side of the blower isdrawing air through the conduit 29 and is supplying air to the topplenum 51. The interior of the entire chamber thus is maintained undersubatmospheric pressure. In practice we find that very littlesubatmospheric pressure is necessary to prevent loss of fiber and tokeep the moving parts clean. Less than one inch, watergauge is entirelysufficierit and imposes very little load on the blower. As the trampermoved downward fiber is packed in the lower portion 11 and is held downby the holddown dogs presently to be described and the fiber is thusbuilt up and somewhat packed, though in relatively loose form, in thebottom portion 11 of the chamber. When sufficient fiber is collected inthis portion of the chamber to form a bale of desired weight bottomportion 11 is shifted from beneath the portion 10 to lie beneath abaling press, not shown, and then, by mechanism not shown and notimportant to this disclosure, but which essentially is a ram, the followblock or lower platen 12 is raised upwardly to push the whole mass offiber into the bailing press and compress in therein into bale form.

In order to hold the relatively loose fiber, which has been packed bythe tramper 48, in the lower part 11 of the chamber, we provide holddowndogs 61. As shown, there are sets of these dogs on opposed sidewalls ofthe lower part of the chamber 11. in view of the fact that the sets onboth sides of the chamber are duplicates a description of one willsuffice for both. Also, F16. 8 shows only about one-half of a completeset as the chamber A is viewed from the side, the vertical centerline ofthe dog assembly passing about through the lugs 72 and 73 presently tobe described.

Each individual dog 61 is disposed to move into and out of a slot 62 inthe sidewall of the chamber both when the tramper moves downwardly topack the fiber in the chamber and when the follow block is movedupwardly to compress the fiber in the bailing press. With each downwardmovement of the tramper 48 the dogs must be moved outwardly by the fiberand then moved back in, in order to keep the fiber from springingupwardly. When bailing the dogs must be completely withdrawn.

Mounted in a suitable bearings 63 secured to the sidewall 64 of thelower section 11 of the chamber is a shaft 66. Secured to the shaft 66is an arm 67 which has an angle portion 67:: extending therefrom. Theupper end of the arm 67 is rotatably mounted in another shaft 68.

The dogs 61 are secured to arms 69 in turn welded or otherwise made fastto shaft 68. As shown particularly in FIG. 7, cover plates 71 areassociated with each dog in such manner that when the dogs are in theirinward positions the cover plates 71 seal and exclude the ingress of airthrough the slots 62.

Outstanding from the shaft 66 is a lug 72 and outstanding from shaft 68is a similar lug 73. A tension spring 74 has its ends anchored asillustrated to the lugs 72 and 73.

Secured to the outstanding section 67a of arm 67 is the upper end 76 ofa connecting link rod 77. The rod 77 is connected at 78 to the end of arock bar 79 pivoted at 81 beneath the lower, open end of the chambersection 11. The end 82 of the rod 79 is adapted to be engaged by thefollow block 12 so that whenever the follow flock 12 is in its lowerposition, that is, while the chamber is being filled with fiber, the rod77 is held in its uppermost position.

With the dog mechanism in the position illustrated in the drawings, itwill be seen that with each downward movement of the tramper foot 48 thedown moving fiber is free to force the dogs 61 outwardly. due to theinclined surfaces 610, this action being permitted by the rotation ofshaft 68 in the upper end of the arms 67. Under these conditions shaft66 and arm 67 remain in the positions illustrated in H05. 7 and 8 onlythe dogs and their supporting arms 69 move outwardly. The fiber is thusfree to be packed beneath the holddown dogs and as soon as the tramperwithdraws the dogs are forced back inwardly due to the inward biasingeffect of spring 74.

When the lower portion ofthe chamber has been filled with fiber and thechamber is shifted to a position beneath the press, upward movement ofthe follow block or platen 12 relieve the downward pressure of the end82 of arm 79. When this occurs the weight of the relatively long linkage77 causes rotation ofthe entire dog assembly about the shaft 66. lnother words, when linkage 77 moves downwardly, due to its weight, shaft66, being secured to arm 67, is rotated clockwise as shown in dottedlines, H0. 7. Due to the provision ofa lug 83 on one of the dog arms 69,pivotal, outward movement of arm 67 engages such lug. Since all of thearms 69 are welded or otherwise secured to shaft 68, as soon as the sideof arm 67 engages the inner surface oflug 83, the entire upper assemblyincluding shaft 68 moves away from the side of the box, thus withdrawingthe dogs 6! and permitting the fiber to be moved upwardly for baling. Ablock 84 having a pad 86 of resilient material may be provided on shaft68 to absorb shock on return of the upper assembly.

ln view of the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised animproved system for handling fibers for bailing purposes. Bycontamination we means contamination from grease, foreign matter, andthe like which is present on substantially all moving parts such aschains, conveyors and the like. Further, we intend to employ the word asmeaning the twisting, nepping, crushing, fusing together and otherdamage to fibers due to mechanical working. Therefore, when we say thatout apparatus reduces contamination of fibers we use that word as justdefined.

With the system in operation it will be apparent that at all times,whether the tramper foot is stationary or is moving up or down, suctionis being applied to the interior of the chamber. This maintains aslight, less than one inch, watergauge, subatmospheric pressure therein.Fiber which otherwise would be lost through the various cracks andopenings in the apparatus are effectively held inside the system due toatmospheric air entering the various openings. Since the return air goesthrough screen 27, the fibers collect thereon and each time the tramperfoot moves downwardly the fibers clinging thereto are carried along withthe main body of fiber. By continually moving air downwardly about thefoot of the tramper we keep these parts as clean as possible. Further,we prevent fiber from accumulating thereon which absorbs oil and then,eventually, drop off into the main body of the fiber thereby tocontaminate it in a serious way. By valving the conduits as illustratedwe are enabled to employ a single fan pneumatically to convey the fiberinto the changing chamber and to maintain it under subatmosphericpressure as well as to supply scavenging air to the plenum 51. Byclosing the openings around the dogs we further eliminate a source ofdifficulty both with respect to losing fiber and maintaining the chamberunder negative pressure.

in practice our invention has proven to be extremely satisfactory andpractical. While we have shown our invention applied to an up packing,single box press, it is equally applicable to a down packing presshaving either single or double boxes.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof.

What we claim is:

l. A fiber collecting system characterized by a major reduction in thecontamination of the fiber collected therein and loss of fiber therefromcomprising:

a. a fiber collecting chamber,

b. means to introduce fiber into the chamber,

c. a reciprocating packing member operable in the chamber, and

(1. means to maintain the interior of the chamber under subatmosphericpressure during the compaction stroke of the packing member.

2. A fiber collection system characterized by a major reduction in thecontamination of the fiber collected therein and loss of fiber therefromcomprising:

a. a vertically elongated fiber collection chamber,

b. a reciprocable packing member operable within the chamber to pack thefibers therein,

c. means to introduce fiber into the chamber at a point between the endsof the path of travel of the packing member comprising,

l. a support onto which the fiber is delivered, and

2. means to direct lateral streams of air under superatmosphericpressure through the support and onto the fiber resting thereon, wherebythe fiber is moved solely by said air streams from the support into thechamber, and

d. means to maintain the interior of the chamber under subatmosphericpressure during the compaction stroke of the packing member.

3. ln fiber packing apparatus,

a. an elongated vertical fiber receiving chamber,

b. a fiber packing member mounted adjacent the upper end ofthe chamberand having a packing member adapted to reciprocate vertically, therebyintermittently to pack in the lower part of the chamber charges of fiberdelivered to the chamber,

. fiber holding dogs pivotally mounted to opposed sides of the chamberat a point intermediate its ends, said dogs having fiber engaging endsprojecting through slots in the walls of the chamber,

d. means to deliver fiber through a wall of the chamber located abovethe dogs and at a lower point on the chamber than the packer member whenin retracted position comprising,

i. a support member for the fiber,

2. a valve controlled supply of air directed through said support andlaterally thereof toward the chamber, thereby to move the fiber from thesupport into the chamber,

3. control means effective during the packing stroke of the packingmeans to stop the flow of said air, thereby to stop delivery of fiberfrom said support into the chamber,

e. there being a perforated wall section of the chamber adjacent thepoint where the fiber is introduced thereinto, and

f. means to draw air from inside the box through said perforated wallsection thereby to maintain the interior of the chamber undersubatmospheric pressure.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there is means to maintain afiow of air around the moving portion of the packing member, thereby toreduce the accumulation of fiber on said member.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the means to supply air tosaid support member and the means to maintain the interior of thechamber under subatmospheric pressure comprises a single air movingapparatus.

6. For use with a fiber baling system of the kind having a fibercollection chamber which includes reciprocable apparatus for packingfiber in the chamber and other reciprocable apparatus for upwardlycompressing the fiber,

a. a fiber holddown dog having a fiber engaging end disposed to projectremovably through an opening in the sidewall of the chamber,

b. means resiliently biasing said dog inwardly of the chamber,

c. means pivotally mounting said dog for movement outwardly of the boxupon reciprocation of the fiber packing apparatus on its fiber packingstroke,

d. means mounting said dog for substantially complete withdrawal fromthe chamber in response to reciprocation ofthe upwardly compressingapparatus, and

e. a cover member movable with the dog and adapted when the dog is inits inner position to seal about the opening in the chamber throughwhich the dog moves, thereby to prevent ingress or egress ofair into orout ofthe chamber.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said dog is carried by anarm located on the outside ofthe chamber,

a. a first shaft to which said arm is nonrotatably secured,

b. a second shaft pivotally mounted on the side of the chamber,

c. a second arm connecting both of said shafts,

d. means resiliently biasing the first shaft in a direction to urge saiddog into the chamber, and

e. means operatively connecting said second shaft and said reciprocablefiber upwardly compressing means, whereby upon reciprocation of thefiber packing means said dog is moved out of the chamber against theforce of said resilient means by rotating about said first shaft, andupon upward movement of the fiber upwardly compressing means said dog iswithdrawn from the chamber upon rotating about said second shaft.

8. ln fiber packing apparatus,

a. a fiber collecting chamber,

b. a reciprocating fiber packing member,

c. an arm attached to said packing member that enters said chamber atone end, and

d. means to cause superatmospheric air to blow into the chamber aroundsaid arm adjacent the point where the arm enters the chamber.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the fiber collection chamberis provided with means to remove air from the chamber during thecompaction stroke of the packing member and having associated filtermeans to contain the fiber within the chamber as said air is removed.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 9 in which the means to cause air toblow into said chamber and means to remove air from the chamber uses acommon air propelling means.

11. A fiber collection system characterized by a major reduction incontamination of the fiber collected therein and loss of fiber therefromcomprising:

a. a vertically elongated fiber collection chamber.

b. a reciprocable packing member operable within the chamber to pack thefibers therein and comprising the piston rod of a fluid pressurecylinder,

c. means to maintain a flow of air around the piston rod, thereby toreduce the accumulation of fibers on said rod as it reciprocates,

d. means to introduce fiber into the chamber at a point between the endsof the path of travel of the packing member comprising,

l. a support onto which the fiber is delivered, and

2. means to direct lateral streams of air through the support and ontothe fiber resting thereon, whereby the fiber is moved by said airstreams from the support into the chamber.

12. In fiber packing apparatus,

a. a fiber collecting chamber having a fiber entry on one side,

b. a reciprocating fiber packing member including an arm that passesthrough a wall of said chamber,

c. a fan,

d. means to direct a portion of air discharging from the fan to blowinto said chamber around said arm adjacent the point where said armpasses through said chamber wall, and

e. air from said fan being directed to blow air into said chamberentr toconveyfiberintothechamber. 13. A fiber co lection system characterizedby a ma or reduction in the contamination of the fiber collected thereinand loss of fiber therefrom comprising:

a. a vertically elongated fiber collection chamber,

b. a reciprocable packing member operable within the chamber to pack thefibers therein,

c. means to introduce fiber into the chamber at a point between the endsof the path of travel of the packing member comprising,

i. a support onto which the fiber is delivered,

2. means to direct lateral streams of air through the support and ontothe fiber resting thereon, whereby the fiber is moved by said airstreams from the support into the chamber, and

3. a curved transition piece located at the juncture of said support andsaid collection chamber. the curvature of which is sufficient to causesmooth deposition of the fiber in said chamber.

1. A fiber collecting system characterized by a major reduction in thecontamination of the fiber collected therein and loss of fiber therefromcomprising: a. a fiber collecting chamber, b. means to introduce fiberinto the chamber, c. a reciprocating packing member operable in thechamber, and d. means to maintain the interior of the chamber undersubatmospheric pressure during the compaction stroke of the packingmember.
 2. means to direct lateral streams of air under superatmosphericpressure through the support and onto the fiber resting thereon, wherebythe fiber is moved solely by said air streams from the support into thechamber, and d. means to maintain the interior of the chamber undersubatmospheRic pressure during the compaction stroke of the packingmember.
 2. a valve controlled supply of air directed through saidsupport and laterally thereof toward the chamber, thereby to move thefiber from the support into the chamber,
 2. means to direct lateralstreams of air through the support and onto the fiber resting thereon,whereby the fiber is moved by said air streams from the support into thechamber.
 2. means to direct lateral streams of air through the supportand onto the fiber resting thereon, whereby the fiber is moved by saidair streams from the support into the chamber, and
 2. A fiber collectionsystem characterized by a major reduction in the contamination of thefiber collected therein and loss of fiber therefrom comprising: a. avertically elongated fiber collection chamber, b. a reciprocable packingmember operable within the chamber to pack the fibers therein, c. meansto introduce fiber into the chamber at a point between the ends of thepath of travel of the packing member comprising,
 3. In fiber packingapparatus, a. an elongated vertical fiber receiving chamber, b. a fiberpacking member mounted adjacent the upper end of the chamber and havinga packing member adapted to reciprocate vertically, therebyintermittently to pack in the lower part of the chamber charges of fiberdelivered to the chamber, c. fiber holding dogs pivotally mounted toopposed sides of the chamber at a point intermediate its ends, said dogshaving fiber engaging ends projecting through slots in the walls of thechamber, d. means to deliver fiber through a wall of the chamber locatedabove the dogs and at a lower point on the chamber than the packermember when in retracted position comprising,
 3. control means effectiveduring the packing stroke of the packing means to stop the flow of saidair, thereby to stop delivery of fiber from said support into thechamber, e. there being a perforated wall section of the chamberadjacent the point where the fiber is introduced thereinto, and f. meansto draw air from inside the box through said perforated wall sectionthereby to maintain the interior of the chamber under subatmosphericpressure.
 3. a curved transition piece located at the juncture of saidsupport and said collection chamber, the curvature of which issufficient to cause smooth deposition of the fiber in said chamber. 4.Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there is means to maintain aflow of air around the moving portion of the packing member, thereby toreduce the accumulation of fiber on said member.
 5. Apparatus as definedin claim 4 in which the means to supply air to said support member andthe means to maintain the interior of the chamber under subatmosphericpressure comprises a single air moving apparatus.
 6. For use with afiber baling system of the kind having a fiber collection chamber whichincludes reciprocable apparatus for packing fiber in the chamber andother reciprocable apparatus for upwardly compressing the fiber, a. afiber holddown dog having a fiber engaging end disposed to projectremovably through an opening in the sidewall of the chamber, b. meansresiliently biasing said dog inwardly of the chamber, c. means pivotallymounting said dog for movement outwardly of the box upon reciprocationof the fiber packing apparatus on its fiber packing stroke, d. meansmounting said dog for substantially complete withdrawal from the chamberin response to reciprocation of the upwardly compressing apparatus, ande. a cover member movable with the dog and adapted when the dog is inits inner position to seal about the opening in the chamber throughwhich the dog moves, thereby to prevent ingress or egress of air into orout of the chamber.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said dogis carried by an arm located on the outside of the chamber, a. a firstshaft to which said arm is nonrotatably secured, b. a second shaftpivotally mounted on the side of the chamber, c. a second arm connectingboth of said shafts, d. means resiliently biasing the first shaft in adirection to urge said dog into the chamber, and e. means operativelyconnecting said second shaft and said reciprocable fiber upwardlycompressing means, whereby upon reciprocation of the fiber packing meanssaid dog is moved out of the chamber against the force of said resilientmeans by rotating about said first shaft, and upon upward movement ofthe fiber upwardly compressing means said dog is withdrawn from thechamber upon rotating about said second shaft.
 8. In fiber packingapparatus, a. a fiber collecting chamber, b. a reciprocating fiberpacking member, c. an arm attached to said packing member that enterssaid chamber at one end, and d. means to cause superatmospheric air toblow into the chamber around said arm adjacent the point where the armenters the chamBer.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which thefiber collection chamber is provided with means to remove air from thechamber during the compaction stroke of the packing member and havingassociated filter means to contain the fiber within the chamber as saidair is removed.
 10. Apparatus as described in claim 9 in which the meansto cause air to blow into said chamber and means to remove air from thechamber uses a common air propelling means.
 11. A fiber collectionsystem characterized by a major reduction in contamination of the fibercollected therein and loss of fiber therefrom comprising: a. avertically elongated fiber collection chamber, b. a reciprocable packingmember operable within the chamber to pack the fibers therein andcomprising the piston rod of a fluid pressure cylinder, c. means tomaintain a flow of air around the piston rod, thereby to reduce theaccumulation of fibers on said rod as it reciprocates, d. means tointroduce fiber into the chamber at a point between the ends of the pathof travel of the packing member comprising,
 12. In fiber packingapparatus, a. a fiber collecting chamber having a fiber entry on oneside, b. a reciprocating fiber packing member including an arm thatpasses through a wall of said chamber, c. a fan, d. means to direct aportion of air discharging from the fan to blow into said chamber aroundsaid arm adjacent the point where said arm passes through said chamberwall, and e. air from said fan being directed to blow air into saidchamber entry to convey fiber into the chamber.
 13. A fiber collectionsystem characterized by a major reduction in the contamination of thefiber collected therein and loss of fiber therefrom comprising: a. avertically elongated fiber collection chamber, b. a reciprocable packingmember operable within the chamber to pack the fibers therein, c. meansto introduce fiber into the chamber at a point between the ends of thepath of travel of the packing member comprising,